Bye Bye Birdie

A Los Angeles radio broadcaster probably put it best when he reported on Democratic Mayor Tom Bradley’s long-awaited decision on whether to support California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird in her reconfirmation bid: “Tom Bradley has come down firmly on the side of neutrality.” The mayor, who is running for governor against popular Republican incumbent George Deukmejian, had been badgered for months on the question. Forging his own path in a swamp explored by few other ranking Democrats, Bradley transformed the art of waffling into a profile in courage, albeit a low profile.

Bradley has good reason to keep his head down. Recent polls by the Los Angeles Times and by Mervin Field show Justice Bird steadily ceding ground and eventually losing by twenty points or more. The Field poll shows her losing even among Democrats.

A Los Angeles radio broadcaster probably put it best when he reported on Democratic Mayor Tom Bradley’s long-awaited decision on whether to support California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird in her reconfirmation bid: “Tom Bradley has come down firmly on the side of neutrality.” The mayor, who is running for governor against popular Republican incumbent George Deukmejian, had been badgered for months on the question. Forging his own path in a swamp explored by few other ranking Democrats, Bradley transformed the art of waffling into a profile in courage, albeit a low profile.

Bradley has good reason to keep his head down. Recent polls by the Los Angeles Times and by Mervin Field show Justice Bird steadily ceding ground and eventually losing by twenty points or more. The Field poll shows her losing even among Democrats.